Blowtorch



2 Sheets-Sheei; l

H C DUn RB mJ. m v m mi. D A H C ATTORNEY c. J. BURcl-l BLOWTORCH Filed April 1a, 1941 Aug, 24, i943.

C. J. BURCH Aug,I 24, 1943.

BLOWTORCH Filed April 18 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u ro,... ...vr

IN1 A CHARLES J. BURCH ATTORNEY RTL. M

Patented Aug.v 24, 1943 BLOWTORCH Charles J. Burch, Kenmore, N. Y., assigner to The Linde Air Products Company, a corporation of Application April 18, 1941, Serial No. 389,115

12 Claims. (Cl. Z55- 1.8)

This invention relates to heating instrumentalities, such as blowtorches, which are particularly useful for piercing deep blasting holes and the like in minerals and mineral-like materials.

The blowtorches described herein are similar in some respects /to the blowtorches described and claimed in Patent 2,286,191, issued June 16, 1942, to Robert B. Aitchison, Charles J. Burch, and

. Charles W. Swartout, and Patent 2,286,192, issued on the same day to Robert B. Aitchison, George H. Smith, and Charles W. Swartout. Moreover. the blowtorches of the present invention are suitable for performing the processes of thermally piercing minerals and like materials described and claimed in the aforementioned patents, as well as the processes described and4 claimed in application Serial No. 268,634, filed on April 18, 1939, by Robert B. Aitchison, Charles W. Swartout, and Virgil C. Williams. They are especially valuable, however, for piercing holes in minerals of a heat-spallable nature, such as quartzite, ganister, and like materials, wherein the application of heat spalls ofi particles of rock at the bottom of a hole, the particles 'then being promptly and continuously removed from the hole. f

When thermally piercing holes of great depth in rock, for example twenty feet deep or more, difiiculties are encountered which are not usually met in the piercing of holes of much less depth. For example, in blowtorches having two or more elongated tubular members extending from the rear to the front of the blowtorch, the two or more members expand or contract in length by dierental amounts in accordance with the vary,- ing temperatures to which they are heated within the hole. Because of this, the use of contact seals between the tubular members and other parts, as in prior blowtorches, is prevented. Such diiferential expansion and contraction, moreover, tends to warp the blowtorch. Another problem is the delivery of the Adebris-ejection fluid, for example compressed air, at the bottom of a deep hole at an adequate rate of ow to clear from the hole the debris, such' as spellings, in a satisfactory manner. Further, it is almost 'impossible to support and manipulate manually a blowtorch of the required great length and weight during the piercing of generally vertical holes. Still another diiculty is' encountered when strata of fusible mineral materials,v which may be present in predominantly spallable material, fuse together and plug the hole, thus preventing further advance of the blowtorch. Re-

moval of these plugs by mechanical action with the tip of an ordinary blowtorch usually damages the tip, which thereafter may require completev dismantling of the'blowtorch before replacement is possible.`

The principal object oi.' the present invention is to provide a blowtorch which will overcome the above-mentioned difficulties encountered during the piercing of deep holes in minerals and the like. MoreV particularly, the objects of the invention are to provide blowtorches in which the differential expansion of multiple tubes will not I be detrimental; which will permit the discharge of an ejection uid, such as compressed air, in an eicient manner and at an adequate rate of flow; which shall have provision for supporting the blowtorch during the piercing of holes in a generally vertical direction; and which shall be designed to permit the replacement of damaged tipswithout requiring replacement ordismantling of other parts of the blowtorch. Still another obj ect is the provision of suchblowtorches which shall be simple. inexpensive, and sturdy in construction, as well as efiicient in operation.

The above and other objects, and the novel features of the invention. will become apparent from the following description, having reference l A' to the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one form of blowpipe embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a. longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2-'2 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional viewy taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. iis a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 5, parts being in elevation, showing a modified form of blowtorch;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 4; andV Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 8- 8 of Fig. 4.

In one form of blowtorch constructed according to the invention, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, an elongated tubular member I I, for a debrisejection iiuid such as compressed air, is secured at its forward end to a tip I2 and at its opposite end to a rear body I3. The tubular member II includes a front tubular section I4, a pipe cross Il, and an adaptor IB. The tubular section I4 y is threaded over 'the tip I2 and compresses a elongated tubular member II.

' adaptor I8 between the bore provide a seal. At its rear end, the tubularsection I 4 ls threaded into one side of the pipe cross a I'I, into the opposite side of which is threaded one end of the tubular externally threaded adaptor I8. The opposite end of the adaptor I8, in turn, is vthreaded into a cavity I9 in the front of the rear body I3.

An elongated conduit 20, for a combustionsupporting gas`suchl asoxygen, is disposed concentrlcally within the elongated tubular member I I with its forward-end threaded into a fluid-distributing cavity 2| in the tip I2, from4 which cavity extend a plurality of annularly arranged fluidv passages 22 converging forwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the blowtorch and having openings on the front face of the tip. 'I'he conduit 20 passesthrough a closely ntting bore 23 and a counterbore or packing chamber 24 of relatively large diameter in the adaptor I3, and at its rear end is disposed within a bore 26 in the rear body I3 having a smaller diameter than the cavity I3. Leakage of fluid between the interiors of the tubular member I I and the conduit 20, and leakage to the atmosphere', are prevented by packing material 23, for example leather, ar-

ranged within the packing chamber 24 between` the externalwall of the conduit 20 and the internal wall of the adaptor I8.' The packing 28 is compressed into sealing engagement with the conduit 20 and the adaptor It by an annular above, a fluid fuel, such as gaseous acetylene, or

gaseous acetylene within which is suspended a powdered metal or flux-forming material, is admitted to the central tube 36 through an inlet u, 1and is discharged inan axial stream from the orward end of the blowpipe. The combustionsupporting gas, such as oxygen, is introduced to the bore 26 through an inlet nipple 45, threaded into a passage 46 in the side of the body Il, and passes forwardly through thefannular passage I1, between the tube 36 and the internal wall of the conduit 20, to the distributing chamber 2I in the tip. Oxygen is then discharged through the ducts 22 in a plurality of streams lsurrounding and converging upon the central fuel stream. The two gases mix outside of the .blowpipe and, .on ignition, prcducean intensely hot llame of the diffusion type, which will not Yflash-back into the blowtorch. Fluid for ejecting spallings and the like from the hole being pierced, such ls compressed air, is introduced to the tubular member II through the inlet side 32 of thepipe cross I1 and passes forwardlythrou'gh the annular passage 3l)` to the tip I2. Then the fluid is discharged from the blow-torch in generally rearwardly directedlstreams through the ports u,

` thus'providingv for the continuous and uninterpacking gland 23 which fits snugly between the l conduit and the adaptor and abuts against a shoulder 21 in the rear body I3 in 4fluid-tight' engagement therewith. l'lli'he gland 29 is pulled up tightly against the packing 28 by the adaptor I8. thus also forcing the packing material 23 against a beveled annular shoulder 25 in the 23 and the counterbore 24.'

An annular passage for a debrisfejection fluid thus is formed between the external surface of the conduit 20 and the internal wall of the 'Ihe passage 30 may be supplied with an ejection fluid, such as compressed air, by an inlet conduit SI-threaded into one side 32 of the pipe cross I1, the opposite side of which is closed by a plug 33. At its forrupted ejection of spellings from the hole.

After the hole being pierced has progressed to a. depth such that the outer tubuar member II is so heated that it expands in 'ength a substantial amount, no diinculty is experienced with warping of the blowtorch or leakage o1' the fluid, because both the intermediate conduit 23 and the central tube 36 are connected tothe rear body Il for straight-line movement relatively thereto,

and are packed against fluid leakage. Likewise,

when the outer tube li is cooled after the piercing operation has b n completed, no undue strains are set up in ny of the members of the blowpipe because the conduit 20 and the central ward end the annular passage 30 supplies fluid l to a plurality of annularly arranged generally V- shaped ports 34 in the tip I2 terminating in openings in the side surface of the Itip. Fluid, such asy end into a central passage in the tip I2. At

tube 36 automatically adjust themselves in the rear body I3 to accord with the overall length o! e the tubular member II.

When a hole of approximately twenty feet in depth or more must be pierced in a generally vertical direction in rock or the like, manual support and manipulation of the long blow-torch required for the Job is very difficult. For this reason, therefore, the blowtorch is provided with `a. generally U-shapedA bail 43 having eyes il and 5I swlveled to trunnions 52 and Il, respectively, provided by the two lateral branches ofthe pipe cross I1. During the piercing of a generally vertical hole, the blowtorch may be suspended in substantially vertical position by a its rear end the tube Il passes through a closely fitting passage 33 in the rear body I3, which connects the bore 2l with a cavity or packing chamber 33 in the rear end of the rear body and forms a beveled shoulder 40 at the bottom of the cham' ber. Packing material 4I, oi.' leather or like material, is packed tightly in the cavity 33, between the external wall of the tube 36 and the internal wail of the cavity, by an annular gland I2. The

gland 42 fits snugly between the tube Il and the wall of the cavity ll. and, is Pulled up tightlyv against the packing 4I by a gland nut I3 mounted on the tube Il and threaded'over the rear end of thbbodyIl. I

block and tackle, or the like, passing through the swiveled bail I9 and supported at the apex of a tripod or similar support.

- In a modified form of blowtorch, as shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, an elongated tubular iluidconducting member I4 is threaded at its rear end into one side' b5 of the through-passage of a pipe T Il, to the opposite side of which an annular flange l1 isweided. An adaptor body il nts irictionally within the front of the tubular member Il and has an annular beveled shoulder Il cooperating with an abutment formed by an annular shoulder within the tubular member to limit -the extent of thel adaptor within the tubular member. and to provide a seal against the escape of debris-ejection fluid.

Just in back of the adaptor Il, the tubular member Il is provided with a plurality of annuoutside diameter of the adaptor body 58 itself, thus providing a conical cavity 64' arranged approximately centrally within the iront oi the il and extend rearwardly from the adaptor body '58 to a rear body 82, which is secured to the flange 51 as by the stud bolts 83. All of the last-mentioned tubes are 'arranged in the rear body 82 for longitudinal movement relatively thereto to compensate tor expansion and contraction o!v the outertubular member vwhich rigidly connects the .tip..comprising the adaptor v 5l and the cap 85, tov/the rear body l2. inasadaptor body. A hollow cylindrical cap 85 is Y threaded over the outside oi the tubular member 5B and the adaptor body 58 with its inner front surface 66 bearing against the apex oi the boss 83 to provide an annular seal therebetween, and to wedge the shoulder 59 against the `cooperating abutment; of the,7 tubular memberll. The cap surface 6B bridges the conical cavity 6l, and also forms an annular chamber $1 around the outer corner of the tip, outside the apex of the boss 63, for the circulation of cooling water. The rear end or the cap, 65 is provided with a skirt E8 which extends rearwardly beyond the outlets of the ports El and is spaced from the external wall of the tubular member 54, thus providing a deector for defiecting compressed air or the like straight back toward the rear ci the blowtorch and the mouth of the hole being pierced, for increased eihciency.

The cap 65 has a central passage E! and a plurality of forwardly converging ducts 10 surrounding the passage B9 and arranged to discharge streams ci combustion-supporting gas toward a central stream oi iuel'gas discharged from the blowtorch. Both the passage 69 and the passages 10 communicate at their inner ends with the chamber 6I. A short nipple 12 is secured within a central bore in the front of the adaptor body 58, as by silver soldering, and fits irictionally within the passage i! in fluid-tight much as the rear end of each oi the tour tubes is arranged for movement in an identical manner in the rear body 82. onlyr the arrangement of the water inlet tube 11, as shown in Fig. 8, will be described in detail.

As shown in Fig. 8. the tube 11 passes through a small diameter bore 8lin the rear body 82, which opens at its rear end into a counterbore 8i. A water supply conduit 86, which is threaded into the counterbore 85 and receives the rear end of the tube 11, has a .conicaily beveled inner end which is drawn up against a mass oi packing ,material 81 in the counterbore 85. for example leatherand forces it tightly against the external surface of the tube 11, the internal surfacev of the counterbore 85, and an internal annular shoulder 88; A fluid-tight seal thus is formed which will permit the tube 11 to move longitudinally relatively to` the rear body I! when the outside tube 54 expands or contracts. In asimilar manner, the tubes-13 and 1I are supplied with oxygen and acetylene, respectively, through the supply conduits 8B and ll, and cooling water is discharged from the blowtorch through the conduit".

engagement with the Wall of the passage to provide a seal against the leakage of gasl from the chamber 5t through the passage $9. A

Tubes 13 and 14 for a combustion-supporting gas, such as oxygen, and for a field Iuel,.such as acetylene, or acetylene carrying a powdered combustible metal or the like, respectively, are rigidly secured within bores in the rear end of the adaptor body it, as by silver soldering. The tubes 13 and 'li communicate, respectively. through passages 1b and 'i5 in the adaptor body 5B with the cavity Si and the nipple 12, respectively. Thus, it may be seen that the acetylene is discharged from the blowtorch in a central stream through the nipple 12, and the oxygen is discharged through the duets le -in a plurality ci' small streams surrounding and converging upon the central acetylene stream, with the resultan?. formation et? a combustible gas mixture outside of vthe blowterch.

Cooling water lier the tip of the blowtorch is supplied through. e, "il secured within a bore in the rear and si the adaptor body,

as by silver soldering, and. cemmunicatingwith C the annular chamber @l by way of a passage 'la in the adaptor and after circulation 'through the annular chamber tl, is discharged through a similar passage 'I8 in the adaptor body 5t to a tube i9, also rigidly secured within a bore inthe rear end of the adaptor body.

The tubes li, aidebyside witliin the outside the cooling water,-

ifi, il, and 86 are arranged tuhularmember During the piercing of a blast hole in spallable mineral materials, such as quartzite or ganister, it occasionally happens that the spallable material is interspersed with strata oi nonspallable material, such as clay, which fuses and forms aplug under'- the action oi the intense heat of the blowtorch, Ethereby preventing iurther advance of the piercing operation. When such a plug forms, it usually may be broken up and removed from the hole by vigorously rotating and agitating the blowtorch so that the forwardly projecting teeth 82, carried on the front of the tip cap 65 at quarter points adlacent to its outer edge, may disintegrate the plug.

A bail 93 also is provided on the blowtorch of Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, to' aid support and manipulation during the piercing o! a generally vertical blasthole. In the -present modication, however, the bail 93 is rigidly secured to the'blowtorch by bolting it to the ilange 51. The threadedends of the generally U-shaped bail S3 pass through the bores in the flange il and are bolted securely in place with heavy nuts thread ed on the ends of the bail and bearing against opposite sides of the iiange.

In the operation oi the blowpipe oi Figs. 4 te l 8, inclusive, the llame is produced in a substantially identical manner with that of the blowpipe oi.' Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive. However, the elec tion oi spellings from the blast hole is iacili tated in this modification by grouping the tubes 13, 14, 11, and side-by-s'ide within thelarge diameter outside tubular member 5t, and by providing relatively large diameter ejection-fluid ports Bu, both of which .factors combinato permit the discharge oi' large volumes of compressed air or the like at moderate economically produced pressures.` Furthermore, the denectine skirt B8 provides straight backow of compressed air and direct ejection oi the debris. thus making available substantially all of the kinetic encresn l dinall'y' spaced. relation: to,

of.' the flowing.' compressed air or the like. for ex' pellinm debris; from. thee bolsa` Moreover', thecorr--l struction ci'. the end` of the blbw/torcm and the arrangement of the rear of the tubes' '[3'.v u; 11i, andi Il! the: badly IIL. as". well. as' the: provision for boltiing the tear body l2.' to the. flange 51 alli cooperate to permit the blowtorch. to be dismantled or" to' permitl any` desired-1 parti. to be removed for' repair or' replace;-l ment'.

Instead oi' compensating; for' dierential. expension and contraction. of the tubes: in. the. blow torches of the the: manner:` particu'.- larly' described, other' means.' may be: employed.. For' example; an exnansible metal bellows mayv be.y secured. between each tube and'. the rear' body` offtheblowtorch..

The blowtorolr shown. 4. to; 8; inclusive,y has: features.: in. common. with. blovvtorches' described and claimed'. in. application Serialy No.

389,116',y l'ed April. 158;. 11941 by' Charles; J. Burch.. Although two` rnodications' oil' blowtorches' embodying. tbe.- principles. of: theinventon havel been. described specically, by Way/ of example.. it ls' evident that changes in construction. and. design may ber made without departing from the.- spiri't; of the' invention. as'v defined. in the claimsz appended hereto;

1.. In. a. blowtorcfr, a. front' bod-yf; ay rear body; a firsty member' secured to botlfr of said body members and. holdingl said. body members: longituone another; and. one: or' more additional. members. connecting. together' said. body members= said. additional member or members being.' secured toA said?. front: bodm. and. engaging; said. rear' body' for'longitudinal. more;-t ment'l relativei'y to the latter..

2". In. a. blowtorclr av fronti body;l a.. rear:v body; a. tubular Huid-conducting memberl secured. rig;-j idly to botn. or' said bodies; and. one: orl more ad 'ditional tubular' fluidi-conducting.' members; ar= ranged. said Ersti-mentioned. member., said. additional member' or members being; securedv to, said fronti body andi engaging said. rear' body for' longitudimall' movement relatively' to the latten.

3pm a; blowtorclr, am elongated tubular'- menn-v ber' adapted?. tocondhct; 'au flowing' Huid-f.; a. body secured to; said tubular member; a. front.

body' securedi to; said. tubular member; and. a'.

plurality' off conduits arranged. sidez-by-siie within said tubular member' said conduiils; being. rigidly' secured?. to: said. Fronti body and. beingl ena-- gagged wi'tl'r bodyf for' longitudinali movement relatively thereto.,

4.. In. a.. blowtorch.. a, front, badly/; 81 IEEE' 50d? having; a, front; bore, a. rear bore and. aI passage therebetween; a, Erst; tubular' Huid-conducting' n member secured tm both). oi said bodies; ay secondi tubularnuid-conducidng member within. said rst. memben, second. member being; secured tu said. front, body being; disposed atiI its: realt' endl. within sai'cE front.' bora for longitndilia'l move menti therein; means; providing a. sea-l to.y prevent: the leakage of dui'dl. from said. front: boxe.;- into'v said?. first; member' andi from. the front; off said;

front'I bore into: the; atmosphere; a'J tubular' a fluidi-conducting; member within seconda member' sai'dl. tbirxi. member being; secured?. toe said! front; and extending; at its: rear' endl through. said@ passage? lnto'` said. rear: boter for' longitudinal movement; therein; andi means.z providing; a. seal'. ln. said rear: bore to.y pieventztbe.l leak e: off fluid'.

' trom'said. fronti. bore through. saidy agee and! una'. rear: bore into; atmosphere..

'member' secured.

aser/,49a o 51.. m. o. enmarca, o a haar f a, bore; a;- 'rst tubular nuidwmd'mi substantially nndiy to of said. a. second tubular Huid-condire@ member a. front end `#cured said. front body' and having: a rear enel. extending ntl bore.l in. said", rear' through one endl thereof im' longitudinal. movement: relatively to. said. body: a 'ui'dfsupply conduit; extending within said. bare through. the opposite endf. thereof and the.l rear' endI ol'said second member; andi mem cooperating' with. saidsecond member and'. said conduit; toy provide al uidftight seal. tIierel'xetilveezrv while:A permitting; longitudinal movement'y of.' nid.

' second; member relatively to said'. rear and.

said conduit..

6'.. A. blowtorcb: comprising an elongated. tubular member; av rear' secured. to said. tubular member; a front; body' secured to. said, rtubular member;y said front; body having' passages' forI a` Huid fuel",` a. combustionfsupporting: gaa, the:

inlet. or cooling; water', and. theroutl'et'. of.' cooli'na Water; said. elongated. tubularA member' having;

lateral ports adjacent; tok said. iront'. body' forl the discharge; o1?.` fluid; ay cap` secured?. over' the.V frontoff sai'd, tubular member, said cap being; adapted. to discharge.` suoli' fluid? fuelv and'. such. combustion.- supporti'ng; gas` separately' tbereirom and?. said capy having; ay portion. thereof extending; rearwardly' beyond. said: lateral'. ports, and. spaced. from the ex: termal surface: of? said. tubular memberfor de.- 'ectingf toward. the;A rearv off blowtorcb. the.A 'u-i'd. discharged thro-ogn. said?. ports; conduits arranged. si'de-byesidea within said tubolarel memf ber; said?. conduits: being secured rigidly to front; communication. each. Witir one of said. passages.. and. said conduits: being? engaged with'. said'. rear body' for' longitmzlinal4 movementy relatively thereto..

W.. A, bl'owtorch'. asf claimed. in. claimv 65 compris.'- ing; means; carried. by' said. capl fori breaking plugs; and. the like;- a. hole:A being; pierced in minerals: and. tba like;

8'.. In. a. blowtorcir,7 an elongated tubular' member having' front; ancl. rear ends'; an. adaptor engaged said. tubular' member' adjacent; to the irontl oil the latter; annular' raised boss; on, the of said. adaption., boss'. hav/ing a. nedi apex. for engaging; a. cooperating member tu provide ausea'lL, andsai'dl boss providing a. arranged cavity in. the: frontr of" adaptor; u hollow? can removably disposed'. over' sadf. said. can ing; a.. sumilace om inside engaging; the; apex: or? said. boss', bri cav/iin; and providing' an. annular' chamber sur-- rounding; said. boss, said can; a. central sages, and?. passages surrounding-.- saki centrali um sage;J all of.' sai'di passages'J commumcatilng with said?A cavity and having openings; in. the from: mr face or' said. capi; a. nipple associated said adaptor' andi the centrali. of said. can duid-tight engagement; of said?. centrali passage; supply anuid. fuelandacombnstion-supportingmuao ci'ated with. said'. adaptor' andi extending; rearward.- ly tlfiereifromA within sai'd tubular'member; means providing passagessaid. adaptor establishing' communication beiiweeny, oneoi said?. condoms; Indi nipple. and between. the other: of duits: andi said cav/ity; #enduits for the: and. outlet. of au cooling.; fluid extending; rearwardly from adaptor; and. Passages in. said. adlniiot establislung; communication. between'4 last-- named'. conduits: and. said. annular' cbarnberz.

9".v In. a',- blowtorcb. as claimed. in. claim. 81, means.

condados". for?l 10. A blowtorch comprising an elongated tubular member having an abutment adjacent to the front thereof; a rear body secured to said tubular member; a front body abutting against said abutment, said front body having fluid passages therein; said tubular member having lateral ports adjacent to said front body for the discharge of lar member and urging said front body against said abutment, said cap having a portion thereof 11. A biowtorcn of the type used for thermally' piercing holes in minerals and like materials comprising an elongated tubular member having front Cil uid; a cap threaded over the front of said tubusaid blowtorch the fluid discharged through said ports; conduits arranged side-by-side Within said tubular member, said conduits being secured rigidly to said front body in communication each with one of said uid passages, said conduits being removably engaged with said rear body for longitudinal movement relatively thereto.

and rear ends, said tubular member being adapted to provide a ame at said front end; trunnions extending laterally from said tubular member adjacent to the rear end thereof, at least one of said trunnions having a passage opening to the inside of said tubular member for the introduction of uid to the latter; and a bail mounted on said trunnions for suspending said tubular member.

12. A heating instrumentality having front and rear ends and a side wall, said instrumentality being adapted to provide heat at said front end; passage means adjacent to said front end terminating in outlet means in said side Wall for discharging debris-ejection fluid in a lateral direction therefrom; and a' deflector for deflecting such iiuid in a rearward direction relative to said front end, said: defiector comprising a skirt secured ahead of said. outlet means and extending rearwardly over said outlet means in spaced relation to said side wall.

CHARLES J. BURCH. 

